USC football: 5 observations from Trojans-Bears

Here are five observations from USC's 30-3 victory against Cal on Saturday:

1. Barkley getting the Matt Leinart treatment

True freshman quarterback Matt Barkley is not old enough to drink, but he's old enough to drive — the USC offense, that is. His rapid progress already has earned him something few Trojans get: Pete Carroll's trust. Mark Sanchez certainly didn't have it last year (see Arizona and Cal). John David Booty had it to a fault during his two years as the starter. Carson Palmer didn't start out with it.

Leinart is the one quarterback whom Carroll really seemed to let loose, and Barkley seems headed in the same direction. Look no further than those third-and-longs Barkley passed on and twice converted. Just two weeks ago USC ran in those situations and played for the punt. That isn't always a bad idea, as we saw on the wild downfield heave Barkley threw for an interception in the fourth quarter. USC, backed up in its own territory, would have been much better served running some clock, as Cal still had enough time for a comeback. Afterward, there was no mention of that pass or the fact Barkley did not throw a touchdown and has thrown just three on the season (with two interceptions).

“This was a game where you were going to tell if Matt was comfortable and could run the offense,” Carroll said. “There isn't any doubt. He might be a freshman, but he isn't a freshman in my book.”

2. Where is C.J. Gable?

If Gable can't get meaningful playing time in a 30-3 blowout, he might not ever play a big down for the Trojans again. With Stafon Johnson out for the rest of the season, Allen Bradford became Johnson and Gable became Bradford. Actually, I take that back. Gable stayed Gable. Until the final minutes of the game, Gable almost played one down on offense in the second quarter before being called back to the sideline. The final distribution went as follows:

Joe McKnight: 20 carries, 119 yards, 2 touchdowns

Bradford: 12-53

Gable: 2-6

No one who's talking knows exactly why he's not playing, including Gable. USC continued to stick with just two backs, which has traditionally been its most effective approach. Only now might actually be the time when they should run three. McKnight has proved he doesn't need many carries to be effective. Bradford also has seemed to follow that trend. With Marc Tyler out with an injury, Gable would fit right in as the third guy. Of course, he could also be more than that.

You're telling me Gable shouldn't at least get a look in those goal-line situations that USC has had so much difficulty converting into touchdowns? Despite his modest stature, Gable is the most physical of all the backs, someone who falls (or spins) forward but also heady enough to not just settle for the minimal gain. There is a role for him somewhere on this team other than the doghouse.

3. Cal treated Jahvid Best as if he were C.J. Gable

At the beginning of the fourth quarter there was a broadcast over the PA system featuring Hardy Nickerson, who recalled a fond memory from his playing days at Cal. The segment was called: Where Are They Now? The feature guest might as well have been Best. Unless he was secretly injured it's indefensible, really, why he didn't get more than 14 carries.

A year ago Oregon State and Jacquizz Rodgers showed the world how USC could be had by attacking up the middle. The Bears' offense was too gimmicky, especially considering its Heisman talent in the backfield. Just hand him the ball and let him go. USC's strategy was to take Best out of the game, but Cal seemed to do that before the Trojans had the chance.

4. Damian Williams a quarterback's receiver

It was admirable to see Williams haul in one pass after another from this quarterback he's known for only about eight months. They looked like they'd been doing it for years. I asked both Barkley and Williams why their rapport is already this good, and both attributed it to practice and film work. Like he did with Sanchez, Williams makes sure to spend extra time on a weekly basis watching film with Barkley. Williams also has learned the assignments of every player on offense, which allows him to find small crevices in the defense.

As good as Williams has been, I think he could be a lot better. Not because of any real deficiency in his game but because USC does not have a consistent second receiving threat (sorry, David Ausberry). Having a running back and tight end as the next two leading receivers on a weekly basis is stifling Williams. He's had to be the possession guy and downfield threat, while opposing defenses can double-team him on any down without thinking twice. That caught up to the Trojans against Washington, and it can again if Ronald Johnson isn't healthy soon.

5. USC's still not major player in BCS

Cal won't be ranked in the top 25 after this weekend, Washington is out for good and so is Oregon State, unless it beats USC at the Coliseum. Oregon is still relevant, although the Ducks still have not been completely forgiven for the loss to Boise State in the season opener. And the same might be true for USC and Washington.

If they should run the table from here on, the Trojans will have beaten Ohio State, Cal, Notre Dame and Oregon on the road. But with each passing week, those victories mean less. Notre Dame is a fringe top-25 team, leaving Ohio State as USC's Great BCS Hope. The Trojans absolutely need the Buckeyes to finish with just one loss to have any real shot of finishing ahead of a one-loss SEC or Big 12 team in the final rankings. Even then I don't see it happening, simply because those teams play conference title games — the winner would be finishing its season with a more notable victory than any USC will have had.

There's an uneven playing field in college football that unfairly favors whichever conferences are deemed the two best. This is why the Pac-10 has had two teams in a BCS game in the same season just twice in 11 years, while the SEC and Big 12 have been able to make that claim nearly every season.

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